Leon Moore Shrugs aside controversial decision

Nov 09, 2010 Sports

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Leon Moore (right) and Carwyn Holland.

Prepares for world title fight against Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka

By Michael Benjamin

The debate is still raging over the authenticity of the majority decision by Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore over Venezuelan Breilor Teran at the Princess Hotel International Providence EBD Saturday night but Moore’s manager, Carwyn Holland has announced that his charge will resume training shortly for a shot at the World Boxing Council bantamweight title currently held by Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka.
Holland made this revelation in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport at his Bent and Hadfield Streets office yesterday afternoon but stopped short of disclosing a date for the bout.
He further disclosed that he will be hunting around for an opponent for a warm up bout for his charge. “I will be having discussions with Leon (Moore) pertaining to this bout and then we will take it from there,” Holland further stated. He said that the bout could be held in Nishioka’s hometown, Japan but he would be happy to stage the bout in Guyana. “Discussions pertaining to the venue and other issues would commence soon,” said Holland.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool who is on the WBC Supreme Council Board of Governors recently returned to Guyana after attending the World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention in Mexico City.
He said that Moore, who was previously rated at number six in the WBC Bantamweight division, was able to clinch a number four ranking after he (Abdool) had successfully petitioned on behalf of the Guyanese pugilist.
The GBBC boss could not definitively say whether the world title fight is immediately available but said that Moore’s recent elevation places him in an excellent position to challenge for the super/bantamweight title. “I am in no position to say whether a title fight is being arranged at this point,” said Mr. Abdool.
The three fighters rated ahead of Moore are Rendall Munroe (GB), Rafael Marquez (Mexico) and Victor Fonseca (Puerto Rico).
Meanwhile, both Holland and Moore are adamant that the latter fighter won the bout against Breilor. Said Holland, “I think it was a great fight marred by poor officiating by a referee who instituted amateur rules in a professional bout.”
He said that in his estimation his charge had won at least seven of the ten rounds.
Holland said that even though his charge hit the deck thrice, in rounds one, seven and ten, he (Holland) still feels that Moore was able to rebound and considerably close the gap on the judges’ scorecard.
Commenting on the controversy after the decision was announced Holland said that the views were mixed with sections of the crowd endorsing the decision while another set denounced the verdict as impartial. He said that in his mind it was the poor officiating of the referee that caused the problem in the first place.
Moore said that he feels that he won the bout fair and square. He debunked suggestions that he was complacent and cocky during preparations for the bout but admitted that there was a paucity of sparring partners. He said that he sparred just thirty rounds among Mandessa Moses, Cecil Smith and Denny Dalton. “These were the only available boxers and even though they gave of their best I cannot honestly say they were the most appropriate boxers for the job,” Moore admitted. Commenting on his trips to the canvass Moore said that the first occurred after a slip while the second was from a low blow. “The third knockdown was legitimate but I still managed to beat the count,” Moore adamantly stated. He said that he would be only too willing to match gloves with the Venezuelan one more time to clear up all doubts of who is the better boxer. “I admit that I outpaced myself attempting to knock him out in the early rounds,” Moore admitted. He said that should they match gloves again he would temper his pace and show the Guyanese public that he is the better boxer.
Moore also admitted to several flaws in his defence which resulted in him being unnecessarily tagged ion numerous occasions. “These are just some of the issues that I will have to address when I return to the gym,” he said. Quizzed on the possibility of facing the Venezuelan a second time Moore said, “I would be happy to fight him again sometime in December month end or early in January.”
Responding to a question from this reporter Moore said, “I am aware that many of the spectators come to the boxing to see me get beaten up but I try to train hard to avert such embarrassment.” He then promised to be in the best shape should there be a return clash. “I think the fact that I was inactive for such a long time might have been responsible for my performance so I plan to fight a little more often,” Moore said. “I can do wonders when I am active as witnessed in my previous bouts,” he asserted.

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